THE kind-hearted neighbours of a disabled Irish pensioner who had her life-savings stolen by thieves has set up an online fundraiser to help recoup her losses.
Mary Garvey, 70, had £6,400 stolen from her home in Kingsdown Road in Holloway, north London, during a distraction burglary by two Irishmen pretending to check her water pressure.
A number of homes in London were left without running water last month following heavy snowfall and Mary allowed the men in to help her.
When the pair left she discovered they had been into her bedroom and stolen thousands in life-savings from a cashbox.
Mary has been disabled for the last 20 years and is alone in London – with all her family back home in Ireland.
She had stored the money in her house because she distrusted the banks after the financial crisis several years ago – but never thought she'd be the target of thieves.
Mary Garvey, 70, lives alone in London and has no children (Image: JustGiving)Her neighbour Vanessa Hein has now set up a JustGiving page in a bid to help replace at least some of Mary's savings – which were to pay for her funeral or vets’ bills for her two cats, Snowy and Snowdrop.
“I felt awful for her after what happened because she doesn’t have anyone, all her family live in Ireland," said Vanessa.
"She kept all her money in the house and she spends most of her time at home because she can’t walk well – she is practically bed ridden".
Vanessa added: "The whole thing was terrifying for her.”
So far more than £1,000 has been raised by kind-hearted neighbours.
Mary said: “The fundraising felt embarrassing at first – I always give and I’m not a taker.
"But at the same time it’s something I would do and I wouldn’t like people feeling down about it, so I’m more than grateful."
